Madison’s New Look Not New to Mount Miguel

Madison High School Coach Steve Miner has been waiting to try the single-back offense that has proved so successful for Fallbrook, the defending San Diego Section 3-A champion.

“This year, the personnel really fits well into that scheme,” Miner said. “We have only one running back with any experience and we have a really strong quarterback in Brad Eaddy, who is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior. It (the single-back offense) intrigues me.”

The pass-oriented offense may intrigue Miner, but it concerns Mount Miguel Coach Gary Cooper.

“Madison a la Fallbrook,” said Cooper, laughing. “It’s their imitation of the Warriors. We’ve seen this offense before.”

And the memories are not pleasant. Fallbrook defeated Mount Miguel, 34-27, in last year’s section semifinals.

Mount Miguel (1-0 and ranked No. 4 in the county) plays host to the No. 10 Warhawks (0-0-1) tonight at 7:30.

Cooper may be worried about Madison’s new offensive look, but he is more concerned with his own offense. Mount Miguel has not scored against Madison in the last two meetings, losing 9-0 in 1985 and 7-0 last season.

Cooper remains optimistic that the Matadors can move the ball, in spite of seven turnovers in last week’s 14-0 victory over Bonita Vista.

“The mistakes we made, we feel are correctable,” Cooper said. “Four or five of the fumbles were quarterback-to-center exchanges.”

Mount Miguel has a formidable ground game, led by running back Anthony Williams and quarterback Anthony Rivera. They did not play together in a full game last season because Rivera separated his shoulder in a scrimmage and missed the first five games and Williams broke his arm in the sixth game.

Williams ran for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns and Rivera added 56 yards on 10 carries against Bonita Vista.

“We are very concerned about containing (Rivera) in a pass situation,” Miner said. “We have to do a really good job at defensing the option. They are very explosive.”

The Mount Miguel secondary will get its first test. The Matadors do not see many passing teams in the run-oriented Grossmont League.

In Madison’s debut of its single-back offense, Eaddy completed 15 of 32 passes for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns. Gary Ollison caught 9 passes for 108 yards, and first-year player Billy Stewart caught 3 passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“Our secondary kids are not very tall so we’re a little concerned with that,” Cooper said. “We’re just going to have to find out how good we are.”

Madison’s defense hopes to be stingier after a 25-25 tie with Chula Vista last week. Madison led, 25-13, with five minutes remaining before giving up 62- and 47-yard touchdown passes.

Although both Cooper and Miner said their teams are defense-oriented, they think the play of the offenses may determine the outcome.

“I think there will be more scoring in this year’s game,” Miner said. “I think both teams are better offensively.”

Said Cooper: “I think field position will be very, very important. Both teams are high-risk type offensive football teams and this early in the season, turnovers could be the difference.”

BIG GAME FACTS

Who: No. 4 Mount Miguel vs. No. 10 Madison.

Where: Mount Miguel High School.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Records: Mount Miguel 1-0; Madison 0-0-1.

Last meeting: Madison 7, Mount Miguel 0 (1986).

Players to watch: Mount Miguel: Eric Parker (5-4, 192), NG; Haywood Mathis (6-3, 195), LB; Anthony Rivera (5-11, 160), QB. Madison: Brad Eaddy (6-4, 190), QB; Gary Ollison (6-2, 215), LB; Billy Stewart (6-5, 175), WR.